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Sir Keir Starmer is delivering a statement at the House of Commons on the 7 October anniversary and the conflicts in the Middle East.
But Sir Keir’s address has been overshadowed by a recent row surrounding ex-party gate investigator Ms Gray, who quit after fearing she was “becoming a distraction” ahead of Rachel Reeve’s budget.
Downing Street rejected suggestions that Sir Keir Starmer has a “woman problem” after he replaced his former chief of staff Sue Gray with Morgan McSweeney.
The prime minister was accused by Rosie Duffield of “having a problem with women” after sensationally quitting the Labour Party over his “greed”.
During a press conference, No 10 was quizzed over the claims after most senior woman behind the scenes had stood aside with a man taking over her role. But a spokesperson said: “I wouldn’t accept that characterisation at all.”
The major resignation and the government’s decision to delay his government’s first budget until the end of October gathered criticism from major Labour figures.
Former Tony Blair aide, Alastair Campbell, warned the prime against taking “too many missteps”.
Another Blairite, John McTernan, said the Labour government had “completely lost grip” and it was “delivering drift” rather than change after losing Ms Gray as No 10 chief of staff.
PM: We stand with all communities against hatred
Sir Keir Starmer has declared his commitment to “stand against hatred” towards religious communities in the UK.
He told the Commons: “We stand with all communities here in the United Kingdom against hatred of Jews and Muslims.
“Because any attack on a minority is an attack on our pride values of tolerance and respect and we will not stand for it.”
Pictured: Theresa May attends Women of the Year Lunch
Sir Keir Starmer speaks at the House of Commons
The prime minister has started his statement by marking the first anniversary of the attacks on 7 October.
“Our thoughts today are with the Jewish people around the world and those in the United Kingdom,” he said.
“The human toll among innocent civilians in Gaza is truly devastating. Over 41,000 Palestinians have been killed, tens of thousands orphaned, almost two million displaced facing disease starvation and desperation without proper care.”
He added: “We stand with all innocent victims in Israel, Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon and beyond.”
Watch live: Starmer says UK must ‘stand with Jewish community’ as he marks October 7 anniversary
Liz Kendall unveils 31 DWP reports that were ‘sat on’ by the Tories
The work and pensions secretary has just announced that her department has revealed 31 reports she says were commissioned under the Tories’ administration.
The minister told the Commons that the results were “sat on” because Rishi Sunak’s government did not want to release them to the public.
You can find a list of all the reports out on the website of the Department for Work and Pensions.
Tories claim Labour’s winter fuel cuts will lead to ‘premature deaths’
Means testing the winter fuel allowance could lead to premature deaths, shadow work and pensions secretary Mel Stride has suggested.
The former minister told the House of Commons: “In the general election the party opposite promised that it had no plans to means test the winter fuel allowance and yet we learn that millions of pensioners (are) to be affected.
“Indeed, in 2017 her own party produced an analysis suggesting that around 4,000 pensioners would die prematurely, were this policy to be brought into effect. Does (Ms Kendall) standby that figure of around 4,000, if not, how many premature deaths does she believe will occur as a result of this policy?”
Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall replied: “In 2017 his party’s manifesto promised to means test winter fuel payments.
“So I would just say to (Mr Stride) until party members opposite know that they have to apologise to the British people for the 200,000 extra pensioners in poverty over the last 14 years, and for a £22 billion black hole in the public finances, which we are now putting right, which has put the public finances at risk, they will remain on those seats and we will remain on these.”
Mr Stride then disputed the claim that 200,000 more pensioners are in poverty, with Ms Kendall responding: “There are 200,000 more pensioners in poverty and I am happy to put those figures in the public debate, to set the record straight on that.”
According to the Institute of Fiscal Studies, the number of poor pensioners fell from 18 per cent in 2019 to 16 per cent in 2022. But the proportion of pensioners unable to afford key material items rose from six per cent to eight per cent over the same period.
Those who could not afford to heat their homes rose from two per cent to five per cent under the Tories over the same years.
Farage U-turns on claim he was told not to hold face-to-face surgeries over security concerns
Nigel Farage has U-turned on his claim that he was told not to hold the face-to-face meetings with voters as a result of security concerns in his Essex constituency.
The Reform UK leader found himself at the centre of a row after parliamentary sources disputed the suggestion he was given such advice from security teams, given it would interfere with his democratic duties.
When asked on Monday, “which one of you is lying” – in reference to conflicting claims from himself and parliamentary sources – the Reform UK leader responded: “The Speaker’s Office is always right.”
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke has the full story below:
Labour MP ‘really worried’ about winter fuel cuts impact on pensioners
A Labour MP has said she is “really worried” about pensioners as the government ploughs ahead with its plans to means-test the winter fuel allowance.
Speaking in the Commons, Rachael Maskell for York Central said: “We are really, really worried now, as winter is approaching, about the impact this is going to have, particularly on the health of older people.
“Will she look at the work that has been done by Energy Systems Catapult and NHS Gloucestershire in social prescribing to ensure that people can receive energy payments that way?”
Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall replied: “I am determined to bring forward the merger of housing benefit and pension credit, which the former government delayed for years.
“And I very much agree with the need to bring together social prescribing, help from the household support fund, and other areas, to make sure pensioners get all the help they need.”
Who is Morgan McSweeney? The Labour election guru replacing Sue Gray as chief of staff
Labour election guru Morgan McSweeney will take over as Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff after Sue Gray quit.
McSweeney is the creative intelligence behind Starmer’s success, first in winning the leadership of the Labour Party and then in winning a huge election victory in the country. It makes sense to have him at the top of the political side of No 10, writes Jabed Ahmed.
Coming up: Keir Starmer and David Lammy to deliver statements in parliament
MPs are currently putting questions to work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall, who is being quizzed over Labour’s plan to cut winter fuel payments for pensioners.
Her statement will be followed by a statement from Sir Keir Starmer on the 7 October anniversary and the conflicts in the Middle East.
We will then hear from the foreign secretary David Lammy, who will be grilled over the recent Chagos Island deal with Mauritius.
